Bonner promises to build on successes of past decade

UA president holds state of university address

University of Alabama President Judy Bonner speaks during a faculty and staff meeting at Bryant Conference Center on Wednesday.

Staff photo | Michelle Lepianka Carter

By Ed EnochStaff Writer | The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 11:34 p.m.

University of Alabama President Judy Bonner reiterated her goal of building on a culture at the Capstone that focuses on success during a state of the university address Wednesday to faculty and staff.

Bonner did not comment Wednesday on the allegations or her mandate for continuous open bidding to improve diversity, though she did praise student leadership and progress toward a more diverse Greek-letter community during a similar presentation last week to the UA System board of trustees. Her comments Wednesday followed a similar script to her Friday report.

Students, faculty and staff remain the university’s most important resource and the focus of the administration’s efforts, she said.

Bonner, who became UA’s first female president on Nov. 1, 2012, highlighted efforts to continue growing enrollment, increase the sense of community on campus and help students graduate on time.

Affordability and accessibility are among the keys to a continuing culture of success, Bonner said.

“It is incumbent upon us to do everything we can to ensure this university is accessible and affordable,” Bonner said.

Tuition has replaced state appropriations as the primary funding source since the economic downturn in 2008.

During the trustees meeting Friday, Chancellor Robert Witt characterized the decline of state funding, increasing tuition and operating costs, and mounting student debt as the major negative trends facing universities nationwide.

Bonner reiterated a promise to build on the progress of the last decade. In 2003 under the leadership of then-president Witt, UA began an ambitious 10-year strategic plan that included enrollment growth and a broad capital building campaign.

The university’s enrollment has grown from 20,333 in 2003 to 34,852 this fall.

During her report, Bonner also noted the completion of the science and engineering complex on campus and the planned completion of the second Presidential Village residence hall in fall 2014, which will bring the total residential capacity on campus to about 5,000 beds.

UA will continue efforts to recruit more students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

“As we go forward, it is extremely important that we continue to grow,” Bonner said.

The university has added about 1,400 to its freshman class since 2008, she said.

Graduate student enrollment increased by 378 since 2009, though Bonner said she would like to see it grow more rapidly in the future.

The university has added 314 faculty during the same period, Bonner said.

“The most important thing we can do for our students is send them out with a degree,” Bonner said, adding they will help graduates compete in a global knowledge-based economy.

The number of undergraduate degrees granted by UA has grown by about 1,300 since 2008, according to Bonner’s presentation. UA’s six-year graduation rate of 67 percent is in the middle of the pack for Southeastern Conference schools, she said.

Helping faculty commercialize their discoveries will be a priority moving forward. Bonner said. Approximately 316 patents were filed with 68 being granted since 2008, according to the presentation.

UA will continue to focus on fundraising for scholarships and endowments, Bonner said, citing figures from the Office of University Advancement that 61,168 donors contributed $81 million in fiscal year 2013.

In comments on Friday, Witt listed philanthropy and patents and licensing among the non-tuition revenues the system would be more active in pursuing as it continues to deal with diminished state funding.

<p>University of Alabama President Judy Bonner reiterated her goal of building on a culture at the Capstone that focuses on success during a state of the university address Wednesday to faculty and staff.</p><p>Bonner, joined by leaders from campus institutions such as the Faculty Senate and Student Government Association, spoke at the fall faculty and staff meeting at the Bryant Conference Center.</p><p>Faculty Senate President Steve Miller praised Bonner's leadership, especially during the aftermath of recent allegations of racial discrimination during fall sorority recruitment.</p><p>Bonner did not comment Wednesday on the allegations or her mandate for continuous open bidding to improve diversity, though she did praise student leadership and progress toward a more diverse Greek-letter community during a similar presentation last week to the UA System board of trustees. Her comments Wednesday followed a similar script to her Friday report.</p><p>Students, faculty and staff remain the university's most important resource and the focus of the administration's efforts, she said.</p><p>Bonner, who became UA's first female president on Nov. 1, 2012, highlighted efforts to continue growing enrollment, increase the sense of community on campus and help students graduate on time. </p><p>Affordability and accessibility are among the keys to a continuing culture of success, Bonner said.</p><p>“It is incumbent upon us to do everything we can to ensure this university is accessible and affordable,” Bonner said. </p><p>Tuition has replaced state appropriations as the primary funding source since the economic downturn in 2008.</p><p>During the trustees meeting Friday, Chancellor Robert Witt characterized the decline of state funding, increasing tuition and operating costs, and mounting student debt as the major negative trends facing universities nationwide.</p><p>Bonner reiterated a promise to build on the progress of the last decade. In 2003 under the leadership of then-president Witt, UA began an ambitious 10-year strategic plan that included enrollment growth and a broad capital building campaign. </p><p>The university's enrollment has grown from 20,333 in 2003 to 34,852 this fall.</p><p>During her report, Bonner also noted the completion of the science and engineering complex on campus and the planned completion of the second Presidential Village residence hall in fall 2014, which will bring the total residential capacity on campus to about 5,000 beds.</p><p>UA will continue efforts to recruit more students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.</p><p>“As we go forward, it is extremely important that we continue to grow,” Bonner said.</p><p>The university has added about 1,400 to its freshman class since 2008, she said.</p><p>Graduate student enrollment increased by 378 since 2009, though Bonner said she would like to see it grow more rapidly in the future.</p><p>The university has added 314 faculty during the same period, Bonner said.</p><p>“The most important thing we can do for our students is send them out with a degree,” Bonner said, adding they will help graduates compete in a global knowledge-based economy.</p><p>The number of undergraduate degrees granted by UA has grown by about 1,300 since 2008, according to Bonner's presentation. UA's six-year graduation rate of 67 percent is in the middle of the pack for Southeastern Conference schools, she said.</p><p>Helping faculty commercialize their discoveries will be a priority moving forward. Bonner said. Approximately 316 patents were filed with 68 being granted since 2008, according to the presentation.</p><p>UA will continue to focus on fundraising for scholarships and endowments, Bonner said, citing figures from the Office of University Advancement that 61,168 donors contributed $81 million in fiscal year 2013.</p><p>In comments on Friday, Witt listed philanthropy and patents and licensing among the non-tuition revenues the system would be more active in pursuing as it continues to deal with diminished state funding.</p><p>Reach Ed Enoch at ed.enoch@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.</p>